This is what happened during the time of Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. At that time, King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials…For a full 180 days, he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty…Wine was served in ...  Read More

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD;Look to the Rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth.When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many."The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;He will make her deserts like E...  Read More

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly.". . . Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of ...  Read More

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.The [Ten] Commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."Love does no harm to a neighbor. ...  Read More

I said to myself, "I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me."But as I stood there in silence -- not even speaking of good things -- the turmoil within me grew worse.The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.Remind me that my days on earth are numbered -- h...  Read More

LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?Who may live on your holy mountain?The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind...  Read More